The Lord speaks of peace to his people. — Psalm 85:(see 9)

Mass Readings: Judges 6:11-24 / Matthew 19:23-30 

Why? 

We should all love Gideon, the Old Testament character in today’s reading whom the angel hails as “champion.” But Gideon seems a little less than impressed and poses the question that so many of us have asked, at least in our hearts. “If the Lord is with us,” he asks, “why has all this happened to us?” 

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do they happen to truly innocent people, to young children? We go to Mass and we keep the Commandments, so why do we suffer? The mystery of God’s will may be an answer, but we still have questions. Maybe we need to see the Cross not so much as an answer to our questions, but as an invitation into the mystery. 

Prayer: Help me, Lord Jesus, as I struggle to accept suffering and disappointment.